Electrical switch.



w. KAISLING.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-27,1913.

Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

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. IQ mm m I -N km mhm w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM KAISLING, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGnon r KELLOGG swrronnoum AND SUPPLY COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLmoIs.

ELECTRICAL swI'roH.

Specification 01' Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

Application filed October 27, 1913. Serial No. 797,411.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM KAISLING, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in I Electrical Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical switches in general and has to do more particularly with switches for controlling a plurality of circuits the present embodiment of my invention being constructed more particularly for use in connection with ignition and light circuits on automobiles, an object of my invention being to provide a device of the character above referred to which is simple in construction, positive in operation and cheap to manufacture. Certain features thereof will be I more particularly pointed'out in the ensuing part of the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention in which like parts are indicated by like reference characters in the different views and in which switch in one of its operated positions;

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the three independently operable light switches illustrating more particularly the terminal arrangement thereof Fig. 7 is a sectional view along the line 7, 7 of Fig. 1 looking downwardly and illustrating more particularly the locking device for the switch actuating members;

Fig. 8 illustrates in perspective the link mechanism for connecting the plungers or operating members of the battery and mag- A neto switch;

Fig. 9 is asectional view along the line 9 of Fig. 1 illustrating the preferred arrangement of insulating the switch springs from the frame; and

Fig. 10 shows a portion of the frame plate illustrating more particularly the serrated or gear-tooth guiding arrangement for the locking key.

I have preferably provided three independently operable switch operating members or plungers A, B and C and a pair of cooperating members or plungers D, E together with a common locking device F, although itwill be apparent that the number of operating members may be varied.

eferring-more in general to the form illustrated in Fig. 1, the switches A, B and C have operative and non-operative positions, switches A and B being shown in their non-operative position and switch C in its operative position. As to the so-called magneto and battery switch operating plungers D and E, as illustrated in Fig. 1 both plungers are in normal positions and are so arranged that if one plunger, D for example, is moved out into an operative position, the plunger E is moved to a non-operative position, and vice versa. The locking device F is preferably arrange to lock the plungers A, B and C in either an operative or nonoperative position, this arrangement being preferred on account of their use in connection with ordinary lighting circuits on the automobile whereby the different circuits may be locked in their operative or inoperative condition. As to the switches D and E, I preferably arrange to look their plunger-s in a normal position only, this being preferable in order to prevent'an operator from looking a switch plunger Dor Ein an operative position by mistake when leaving the car. 7

Referring now more in detail to the switch construction, a frame comprising elongated top and bottom bars 1 and 2 respectively, and connecting posts 3 and 4, is provided, posts 3 and 4 being preferably fastened to bars 1 and 2 by means of screws 5, 6, :7, 8.

An escutcheon plate 9 is also provided being 3 secured to the switch proper by means of the screws 6, 8 which clamp said plate against the frame 1. Each of the plungers A, B and C is preferably of the same construction, this being illustrated more particularly in the sectional view, Fig. 4. A main plunger rod 10 is provided, extending through alined bearings in the frames, the lower portion of said rod extending through the bar 2 and an upper portion 11, extend-.- ing through a bushing 12 which is firmly secured/to the frame plate 1. Conducting and insulating cams 13,14 respectively, are secured tothe plunger 10, the insulating cam 14 resting against an annular shoulder on rod 10 and the conducting 'cam 13 being preferably insulated from the rod 10 by means of an insulating bushing 15, said elements 13, and 14 being clamped in position by means of a nut 16 threaded upon the rod 10. A pair of locking grooves 17, 18, are provided, the groove 17 being adapted for use when a plunger is locked in a nonoperative position and the groove 18 being used when the plunger is locked in an operative position. A pair of contact springs 19, 20, are provided for each of the switches A, B, and C, springs 19 being insulated from each other and each provided with a terminal binding post 21. These binding posts are clamped against their corresponding contact springs 19', as indicated in the drawing. Thecontact springs 20 are insulated from the frame bar 2 but are connected by a common conducting strip 22, shown in Fig. 6 and provided with a common terminal 21.

Fig. 9 which is a section through the line 9, of Fig. 1, illustrates the manner in which thescrews, contact springs, and clamping plates are insulated-from the frame and from each other. The clamping screws 24 extend through metal and insulating washers 25, 26, and other elements of the switch, then threading into a "clamping plate 27 orterminal extension 21 according to whether a terminal 21 is or is not used. The clamping plates 27 receive the threaded ends of the screws 24 in place of the terminals 21 and so act as clamping plates for the spring sets. Suitable insulating bushings 28 are provided to insulate the screw from the frame and contact springs where necessary. The upper parts 29, 30, of springs 19 and 20 fit into annular grooves of the cams 13 and 14 so that when a plunger A; B or O is in a non-operative position as shown in Fig. 4, the ends 29, 30 rest in the groove of cam 14 holding the plunger in such position and maintaining the springs 19, 20, insulated from. each other. When a plunger is moved into its operating position as shown by the plunger the ends 29, 30, of the contact springs fall into the annular groove of the conducting cam 13 whereby the plunger is held in its operative position and the contact springs 19, 2O conductively connected. Operating buttons are provided for each of the plungers being preferably threaded thereon.

I have preferably arranged the so-called light switches A, B and C so that a common source of current may be connected to the contact springs 20, which springs are connected in common by the conducting plate 22 as already pointed out. The associated con tact springs 19 are each provided with an individual terminal 21 so that'they may be connected to diiferent circuits, but it will be apparent the terminal arrangement may be varied according to the particular circuit arrangement.

Now as to the battery and generator switch plungers D andE, these members diiter in some respects from the plungers of switches A, B and C. A main plunger rod 40 is provided having insulating and conducting cams 41, 42 respectively mounted thereon, insulating cam 41 having normal and nonoperative grooves 43, 44 respectively. 'lhe cam 41 rests against a shoulder on the plunger rod 40, the conducting cam 42 being insulated from the rod 40 in a manner similar to the construction of plunger 10 as shown in Fig. 4. A link support 45 is also carried by rod 40 being clamped in position with the cams 42, and 41 by means of a clamping nut. Gontact springs 19 and 20 preferably like springs 19, 20, are also provided for each of the plungers D and E,

being mounted as shown in Fig. 9 and each having an individual terminal binding post as 21 connected thereto. The arrangement of these binding posts may of course be varied.

As already briefly referred to, the switch.

plungers D and E are preferably arranged for connecting the magnetolor battery to the automobile circuit in a well-known manner. As it is desirable to have this switch so that only one set of the contacts can be in an operative position at one time, I have connected the plungers D and E by means of links 46, 47, which links are preferably pivoted at a central point and connected to the post 4 by means of a pivoted pin 48, the free end'of said links riding in the grooved linksupports 45. Thus with plungersD and E in a normal position, the contact springs 19, 20 of each device D, E, rest in the groove 43 but assuming that the plunger 1) is withdrawn to an operative position as shown in Fig. 5, although its contact springs are electrically connected to the associated conducting cam 42, the plunger E is simultaneously moved into an inoperative position with its contact springs 19, 20 resting in their in operative holding groove 44. Likewise should the plunger E be withdrawn to its operative position, due to the connecting links 46, 47, the plunger D is moved down into an inoperative position.

In connection with the switch operating members A to E inclusive, I provide a common locking device F comprising in general a locking plate 50 and a key 51. Plate 50 is supported between shoulders on the connccting posts 3, 4, and the frame plate 1, said plate 50 having orifices 52, 53, through which the posts 3 and 4 extend, the supporting arrangement being such as to allow a free reciprocating movement of the locking plate 50. E ch of the piunger rods extends member inthe form 0..

' arranged so that the locking p t dotted lines in Fig. 2, mat so. 1

mits a free reciprocati gplunger when the plat position, but when Lie plate 5! a locking position, each. slot enarcles a locking groove in the ac ciated plunger preventing movement thereof.

For operating the locking bar 50, the key 51 is preferably provided'with a. serrated or gear-toothed circular portion 55 which is adapted to cooperate with an internal rack 56 carried by the locking plate 50. order to prevent the insc v proper key, an int edge or surface 5'? in the frame p ate larlyin Fig. means for the iii 58, which is supporte w, to the frame by a s en 60 and held by a dowel pin 61. A hol is of course provided in the key 51 to conic t the supporting stud 58 as shown more ole J in the cross sectional portion of The locking late 50.has two posi ns, locking and nonocklng positions, and PIGVL a resilient an end 62 adapted to groove 63 or locl' g groove plate in either po n. Ey .ie' serrated or gear-mesh loci: arr igemcnt, it will be apparent that little chance is pre sented of inserting anything but the proper key to actuate the lock.

As previously referred to, the swi ating plungers A, B, and C operate with eit lock these plunge. operative position. in eoni'iection ,w' switch members i) and E, 51 have preferably arranged the locking device so that the plungers must be in a normal position to permit operation of-key 51, whereby the slots 1'7 of said members D and E re 1 i the 1001011 late 50 as shown in 1 1. With the switches D, E in an. operative position as shown in Fig. 5, the en r ed portion of the plunger rod is in position to prevent movement of the plate 50. Likewise at the switch members A, B and C, the enlarged portion 10 of the plunger rods prevent movement of bar'fiG unless the plun 'ers are in an operative or inoperative position.

Thus with the plungers in the position shown in Fig. 1, by inserting the key 51 so that its art 55 will mesh with the rack :36 of the 100 King plate 50, upon turning said key 51 into the position indicated by the L 50 is moved in the direction of the arrow indicated thereon in Fig. 7, thus locking all of the switch operating plungers in the cesition illustrated. The key may now be withdrawn, because when in its operated position its teeth again register with the internal guiding teeth Y '2.

To unlock the switch the key I ted through the guiding means 57 so that the toothed-portion 55 engages the rack 56 whereby a counter clockwise rotation of the corres ondin lockin plate orifice 54 so D B that although the key 51 may be inserted, a rotation thereof to move the locking plate 50 is prevented. It will be seen from this that although the so-called light-switch members A, B, C will permit operation of the lock in either their operative or inoperative positions, it is necessary to'have the switch members D, E in a normal position before the lock can be operated and the key withdrawn.

in illustrating my invention I have chpsen an embodiment especially adapted for use with the commercial lighting and ignition circuits now in use, but I do not desire to be limited to the exact structure as show and described as l aware that many modifications and changes will readily suggest themselves and I contemplate using my invention otherwise than the particular embodime it illustrated.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A. switchingdevice including a supporting -frame having parallel frame bars, longitudinally reciprocating switch operating members supported in alined openings in said bars, each of said switch operating members having normal, operative, and nonoperative positions, mechanism whereby when either one of said members is moved to its normal, operative or non-operative posi tion the other member is moved to its normal, non-operative or operative position, re spectively, a common locking plate supported adjacent one of said bars and operable to lock said switch operating members only when they are in normal position, and a key adapted to be-inserted through" said last mentioned bar to engage and operate said plate to lock said switch actuating members against operation.

2. A switching device including a supporting ti ame having front and rear frame bars, longitudinally ing members supported in alinedpopenings in said bars, an actuating button for each or said members positioned before said front reciprocating switch opera't 51 is again operative position respectively,

bar, two of said members having normal, operative and non-operative positions, mechanism for said two members whereby when either one of said two members is moved to normal, operative or-non-operative position the other member is moved to its normal, non-operative or operative position, respectively, a common locking plate suitably supported beneath said front bar operable for locking said switch operating members against actuation, said locking plate being inoperative to lock said two switch operating members in other than their normal positions, and a manually operable key adapted to be inserted through said front plate to reciprocate said locking plate.

3. A switching device comprising a pair of switch operating members, eachot' said members having normal, operative, and non-operative positions, link mechanism for said members whereby when either one of said members is moved to its normal, operative or non-operative position the other member is moved to its normal, non-operative, or operative position respectively, and looking means operable to lock said switch operating members only when they are in normal position.

i. A switching device comprising a pair of switch operating members, each of said members ha ing normal, operative, and nonoperative positions, link mechanism for said members whereby avhen either one of said members is moved to its normal, operative or non-operative position the other member is moved to its normal, non-operative, 0r operative posit-ion respectively, means for yieldingly holding said members in said positions, and. means for locking said switch operating members, said means being inoperative to lock said members in other than their normal positions.

5. A switching device comprising a pair of switch operating members, each of said members having normal, operative, and nonoperative positions, link mechanism for said members whereby when either one of said members is moved to its normal, operative or non-operative position the other member is moved to its normal, nonoperative, or means for locking said switch ope 'ating members against effective operation when in their normal positions, and means for preventing an operation of said locking means when said switch members are in other than their normal position.

6. A switching device comprising a pair of switch operating members, each or' said members having normal, operative and nonoperative positions, link mechanism for said.

in'lembers whereby when one of said members is in .its normal, operative or non-operative position the other member is in its normal, non-operative or operative position respec- Leesyoa tively, means for locking said switch operating members against edective operation when in their normal positions, and means to prevent locking operation of said device except when said switch operating members are in their normal positions 7. A switching de'ice including a sup porting frame having parallel frame bars, a pair of studs connecting said frame bars, a pair of switch operating plungers supported in alined openings in said bars, each of said switch plungers having normal, operative 'and operative positions, angularly grooved elements carried by the plungers, connecting link pivoted to one of said studs and having its opposite ends within said plungers whereby when either one of said plungers is moved to it. nal, operat-iveor non-operative position the other plunger is moved to its normal, non-operative or operative position, respectively, and locking means operable to lock said plungers only when they are in normal position.

8. An electrical switch including a sup porting frame having parallel frame bars, a stud connecting said frame bars, a pair of switch actuating plunger-s supported by said frame bars, each or said plunger-s having normal, operative and non-operative posi-- tions, a connecting link pivoted to said stud having its ends connected to said plungers whereby any actuation of either plunger to its normal, operative or non-operative position will move the other plunger to its normal, non-operative or. operative position, respectively, other switch actuating plungers, and a common locking mechanism for looking all of said plungers against actua tion,

9. An electrical switch comprising a pair of reciprocating actuating members each member having normal, operative and nonoperative positions, means t'or yieldingly holding said members in their three diiierent definite positions, connecting mechanism whereby when one member is moved'to its normal, operative or non-operative position the other member assumes its normal. nonoperative or operative position respectively, other switch actuating members and a common locking bar for locking all of said members against actuation.

10. An electrical switch comprising face plate, a plurality of plungers extending through said plate, contact devices controlled by said plungers. two of said plungers having normal, operative and non-(morative positions, mechanism for said pair 91": plungers whereby when either one of said plungers is moved to its normal, operative or non-operative position the other plunger is moved to its normal, non-operativeoir operative position, respectively, a loc lnng plate lying against the inside surface 0t said face plate and having locking orifices therenofinal,

Lion. respec- 11. A swizchiug device 2 011901; porting frame lembers longitudinally ing members supponed in my {L1 3111 bars, each 05 two 0f isng1- switch operatin membs' anerafmiqg epela-tiv and 11 nings m (wants "0 umllel nesting znechan said pair of moved to its IHOFTXL ativepcsition the 0 members assumes i non-operative posi 111011 locking; plate of said bars, mu? 2: f serted through the and. operate saidp switch actuating 1 12. A11 slecfi'icn porting frame ha actuating men'lb for controlling 1i. tended. at rigforming a part 0* a pair of switch achmi trolling dle igniiion c1 mentionei. lmmberr tive and nml-ope-rzu otally secured to saio posite ends Qpemtiveiy 3 last me tioned actuatillgi; n

of week, 01 "two l-ING. 

